On Thursday, the Supreme Court gave a major relief to West Bengal by allowing the continuation of services of those school teachers who were earlier terminated but later found to be untainted in the recruitment process.
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent decision to extend the services of school teachers whose appointments were earlier cancelled but who were found to be untainted. She said the verdict has brought a “sense of relief”.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court gave a major relief to West Bengal by allowing the continuation of services of those school teachers who were earlier terminated but later found to be untainted in the recruitment process.
The case had been investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had found irregularities in several appointments.
Speaking to reporters after the court’s decision, CM Mamata Banerjee said:”We are happy with the SC order… there is a sense of relief with the coWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent decision to extend the services of school teachers whose appointments were earlier cancelled but who were found to be untainted. She said the verdict has brought a “sense of relief”.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court gave a major relief to West Bengal by allowing the continuation of services of those school teachers who were earlier terminated but later found to be untainted in the recruitment process.
The case had been investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had found irregularities in several appointments.
Speaking to reporters after the court’s decision, CM Mamata Banerjee said “We are happy with the SC order… there is a sense of relief with the court order.”
She also appealed to the affected teachers to stay calm, assuring them that the matter would be resolved.
“I would request the teachers not to worry, the issue will be resolved,” she added.
A bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, took note of the West Bengal government’s statement that the academic functioning in many schools had been badly affected. The state informed the court that recruiting new teachers would take time, and that immediate relief was necessary.
Based on this, the court decided to allow untainted teachers—those not involved in the alleged scam—to continue their services.
However, the Supreme Court made it clear that its order would not apply to Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ employees appointed in government-run and aided schools. These categories will continue to remain excluded from the relief.
The top court instructed the West Bengal government to begin a fresh recruitment process on or before May 31 and complete the entire process by December 31, 2025. The recruitment will be managed by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).
The court also directed the state and WBSSC to submit a compliance affidavit confirming that the new recruitment process had started by the May 31 deadline.
Earlier, on April 3, the Supreme Court had cancelled the appointments of 25,753 teachers and staff members working in state-run and aided schools across West Bengal. The court observed that the entire recruitment process was “vitiated and tainted”.
The Supreme Court had upheld the Calcutta High Court’s verdict dated April 22, 2024, which annulled the appointments of these teachers and non-teaching staff. The top court also ruled that those who were found to be part of the tainted recruitment must refund the salaries or payments they had received during their time in service.urt order.”
She also appealed to the affected teachers to stay calm, assuring them that the matter would be resolved.
“I would request the teachers not to worry, the issue will be resolved,” she added.
A bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, took note of the West Bengal government’s statement that the academic functioning in many schools had been badly affected. The state informed the court that recruiting new teachers would take time, and that immediate relief was necessary.
Based on this, the court decided to allow untainted teachers—those not involved in the alleged scam—to continue their services.
However, the Supreme Court made it clear that its order would not apply to Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ employees appointed in government-run and aided schools. These categories will continue to remain excluded from the relief.
The top court instructed the West Bengal government to begin a fresh recruitment process on or before May 31 and complete the entire process by December 31, 2025. The recruitment will be managed by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).
The court also directed the state and WBSSC to submit a compliance affidavit confirming that the new recruitment process had started by the May 31 deadline.
Background
Earlier, on April 3, the Supreme Court had cancelled the appointments of 25,753 teachers and staff members working in state-run and aided schools across West Bengal. The court observed that the entire recruitment process was “vitiated and tainted”.
The Supreme Court had upheld the Calcutta High Court’s verdict dated April 22, 2024, which annulled the appointments of these teachers and non-teaching staff. The top court also ruled that those who were found to be part of the tainted recruitment must refund the salaries or payments they had received during their time in service.
